Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has condemned the reported arrest of the state Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, Sunday Bisi, and called for his immediate release.
Adeleke made the demand in a statement posted on his official X account on Saturday and signed by his spokesperson, Olawale Rasheed.
According to the governor, Bisi was allegedly arrested at his residence in Ilesa shortly after casting his vote in the ongoing Osun State governorship election.
Adeleke described the alleged arrest as an abuse of law enforcement and an attempt to undermine the democratic process.
“Information reaching me indicates that Bisi was accosted in his home in Ilesa shortly after he returned after voting, and whisked away to a yet-to-be-known location.
“Up till this moment, no one has been availed the reason for his arrest, which indicates that the APC is working in cohort with compromised security agents to keep people away from monitoring results at the various collation centres,” Adeleke said.
The governor further alleged that the incident was connected to an attempt to interfere with the collation of results, although he did not provide evidence to support the claim.
“This latest sweep on my supporters, I have authoritatively learnt, is part of a broader plan to give the APC unhindered access to change results at collation centres and upturn our wins at the poll.
“This is the biggest assault on democracy, and I urge everyone involved in this desperate attempt to upturn the will of our people through the use of state institutions,” he said.
Adeleke described Bisi’s alleged arrest as political and also demanded the release of other persons he referred to as “political prisoners” across the state.
“In that regard, I am calling for the immediate release of Hon. Bisi because his arrest is nothing but political and other political prisoners across Osun state,” Adeleke said.
He added, “Election should be about the people freely giving their mandates to the person of their choice without threat or force.”
As of the time of the governor’s statement, Bisi’s whereabouts remained unknown, with Adeleke saying no reason had been provided for his alleged arrest.
However, The Punch reported that no security agency had publicly claimed responsibility for the reported arrest as of press time.
